via Daily Prompt: Treasure I treasure my Mom. Treasure: as a verb is defined simply as to "keep carefully". A synonym listed for treasure is the word "cherish". Cherish: takes things a little further, "protect and care for (someone) lovingly". Today is my Mother's birthday. I cannot express in mere words how much she means to me, and how much I love her. I treasure her. I cherish her. And Continue Reading...
24, Then and Now
Yesterday my oldest son turned 24 years old. I was 24 years old when he was born. So, it got me thinking about how long ago that was, and just how much has happened in that time. It truly seems like a lifetime ago. To my son, I only knew what I knew. I didn't always know what to do. I made a million mistakes. Never has a moment passed that I haven't loved you. I'm as imperfect as I ever was, but Continue Reading...
Wife is Away
My wife is away for a few days on a business trip. She is very much missed in our household, and her absence is noticed in numerous ways. One such instance occurred over night number one of her trip. At 4:11am our nearly five-year old son walked into our room. He was sniffling and coughing, but knew exactly where to go in the dark. He climbed up on my wife's side of the bed, as his routine. Upon Continue Reading...
Lesser Pain
Sometimes I wonder what it is you seeBecause you’re not all that different from me My eyes open too, I look upon this worldBut I cannot say I know this direction hurled A light I used to see, and could only shareNow only blinks from a place near despair Love. There’s plenty here, even moreBut your hands won’t rap on this door Life’s too short, is what they all sayToo long, when you question each Continue Reading...
Beautiful Innocence II
I just watched President Obama deliver a speech from Newtown, CT. I cried as he talked of our children and of parenthood. Then I cried a little bit more as he read the list of names. I imagined how it must feel to hear your child's name listed on that list. A name that Mom and Dad may have argued over, certainly they discussed the name many times. Maybe they didn't know if they were having a boy Continue Reading...
Beautiful Innocence
I sit here at my keyboard tonight, trying to procure rationale from the chaotic swarm of thoughts swirling in my head; In doing so, I try to separate the thoughts of anger that bubble up in my attempts to understand the how and the why events like this can happen. Somewhere over time, I have tried to be better at facing the things that bind my mind and twist my intellectual limits to the maximum, Continue Reading...
Thanks #21 (Sue)
I am thankful for Sue. She is the mother of Steve, Ryan, and Erin. I am thankful that she did not, and has not stopped being their mother. A good mother, who has used all she knows of parenting, and even learned more in order to do her best as a mother. As their father, I am fortunate to have had a parenting partner who has been as committed to being mom as Sue has. The challenges we've faced and Continue Reading...
Thanks #3 (Kids)
I am very thankful for my kids. I am also so very thankful for the inherent resiliency within them. Thank God for their ability to adapt, overcome, and improvise at levels we don't give kids enough credit for. I'm thankful for these six amazing kids, who kept being kids while I worked through various models of parenting. I may never get it right, but I know that these kids are fantastic, and their Continue Reading...
Thanks #1 (Parents)
#1 I'm so thankful for my parents. I'm so glad they did, and still do care. When I feel like so many parents are asleep at the wheel these days, I'm so happy that my parents were present and participating in my life. Continue Reading...
The End: They Left It On The Field
It didn't really hit me until I was suddenly caught off guard after most everyone but the parents had left the ballpark. I had made my way over behind the dugout to say hi to Ryan and to congratulate him on his efforts. Then it hit me, finality, this final moment hit me, I realized that I did not have my camera, so I asked a friend if they had a camera to get a picture of Ryan and I. That's about Continue Reading...